Lower Body Exercise Apparatus

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus ( 20; 200 ) for use by a user ( 600 ) and comprising: a frame ( 22; 202 ); a resistance unit ( 24; 204 ); a first member ( 26 A) positioned to engage a left lower leg of the user; a second member ( 26 B) positioned to engage a right lower leg of the user; wherein: the first member is mounted to the frame for rotation about a first axis ( 510 A) between a first condition and a second condition; the second member is mounted to the frame for rotation about a second axis ( 510 B) between a first condition and a second condition; the first member and the second member are coupled to the resistance unit so that the rotations of the first member and the second member to their second conditions from their first conditions is against resistance from the resistance unit; and the first member and the second member are mounted for the respective rotations so that the rotations of the first member and the second member to their second conditions from their first conditions draws the user&#39;s ankles together proportionately more than the user&#39;s knees are drawn together, if at all.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Benefit is claimed of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/716,274, filed Aug. 8, 2018, and entitled “Lower Body Exercise Apparatus”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if set forth at length.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to lower body exercise apparatus. More particularly, the disclosure relates to apparatus for gluteus maximus muscle (gluteal or glute) development.

A number of exercise apparatus are used for gluteal development. A typical commercial gym will include several selectorized apparatus for gluteal development. One area of apparatus is leg press (seated or standing (squat)) machine where principal exercise is of quadriceps and gluteals. A more rare apparatus is the kickback machine which more highly concentrates on gluteals. In a hip abduction machine, a user is seated with outboard sides of the user's upper legs engaging members that pivot about respective vertical axes. An external rotation of the upper leg (driving the knees apart about the respective hip joints) rotates the members about their axes against the selected weight on the selectorized stack. During this movement, the lower legs remain generally vertical.

A hip adduction machine involves essentially the opposite direction of resistance relative to abduction. Pivoting members have pads positioned to contact the inboard sides of the user's upper legs so that the user draws the upper legs together against the resistance. This is not regarded as exercising the gluteus but rather principally inner thigh (adductor) muscles.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure involves an exercise apparatus for use by a user and comprising: a frame; a resistance unit; a first member positioned to engage a left lower leg of the user; a second member positioned to engage a right lower leg of the user. The first member is mounted to the frame for rotation about a first axis between a first condition and a second condition. The second member is mounted to the frame for rotation about a second axis between a first condition and a second condition. The first member and the second member are coupled to the resistance unit so that the rotations of the first member and the second member to their second conditions from their first conditions is against resistance from the resistance unit. The first member and the second member are mounted for the respective rotations so that the rotations of the first member and the second member to their second conditions from their first conditions draws the user's ankles together proportionately more than the user's knees are drawn together, if at all.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the resistance unit comprises a selectorized plate stack.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the resistance unit comprises a cylinder for providing resistance in at least one of extension and compression.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the first axis and the second axis are within 10° of vertical.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the first member and the second member each comprise an outward-facing inboard surface for laterally engaging a lower portion of the respective associated lower leg of the user.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, a method for a user to use the exercise apparatus comprises: kneeling on the exercise apparatus with the left shin supported by the first member and the right shin supported by the second member; and internally rotating the left lower leg and right lower leg against resistance from the resistance unit.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the method further comprises externally rotating the left lower leg and right lower leg aided by the resistance unit.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the internally rotating and externally rotating are sequentially repeated, terminating with one of the external rotations.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the method further comprises the user mounting the machine prior to the sequence and dismounting the machine after the sequence.

Another aspect of the disclosure involves an exercise apparatus for use by a user and comprising: means for supporting the user in a kneeling position; and means for providing a resisted internal rotation of the user's lower legs while kneeling.

Another aspect of the disclosure involves a method for a human user to use an exercise apparatus, the method comprising: kneeling on the exercise apparatus with the left leg supported by a first member and the right leg supported by a second member; and internally rotating the left lower leg and right lower leg against resistance from the exercise apparatus.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a user using a first exercise apparatus with the user's lower legs in a relatively adducted condition (showing a weight stack with four plates raised).

FIG. 2 is a second view of the first exercise apparatus in a relatively abducted condition of the user (showing the stack lowered) with user-engaging members exploded upward for illustration and including broken line extended conditions.

FIG. 3 is a third view of the first exercise apparatus in the relatively abducted condition of the user (showing the stack lowered) with user-engaging members exploded upward for illustration and including broken line extended conditions.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the first apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the first apparatus in the relatively abducted condition of the user (showing the stack lowered).

FIG. 6 is a top view of the first exercise apparatus in the relatively abducted condition.

FIG. 7 is a view of a second exercise apparatus in a relatively adducted condition.

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded view of the second exercise apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the second exercise apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the second apparatus in a relatively abducted condition.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the second apparatus in the relatively abducted condition.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exercise apparatus 20 wherein there is a resisted movement of lower legs while the upper legs remain close together. The exercise is performed in a kneeling position with the upper legs and torso close to vertical. In distinction to a traditional hip adduction machine, an adductive movement (internal rotation) offers significant gluteal exercise.

An exemplary user 600 is an intact adult human user having a torso 610, respective left and right arms 620A, 620B, and respective left and right legs 640A, 640B. The arms extend from respective shoulder joints 622A, 622B at an upper end of the torso and terminate in respective hands 624A, 624B. Similarly, the legs extend from respective hip joints 642A, 642B at a lower end of the torso, terminating in respective feet 644A, 644B having soles 646A, 646B. It is understood that the user may be closed including footwear and gloves. The user has upper legs 648A, 648B extending from the hips to knees 650A, 650B and lower legs extending from the knees to respective ankles 652A, 652B. Forward portions of the lower legs form shins.

The exemplary apparatus 20 is shown as having a frame 22 (e.g., welded metal tube stock) and a resistance unit 24. An exemplary resistance unit is a selectorized steel or iron plate stack (e.g., having guide rods 25 and a sting 100 and selector pin 102 (only shown in FIG. 5) of the type generally ubiquitous in commercial gym equipment. Exemplary stacks may have 8-25 plates. Yet alternative resistance units are plate-loaded configurations using Olympic-type plates. The apparatus has user-engaging members 26A, 26B (FIGS. 2 and 3) coupled to the resistance unit (e.g., via a cable or belt and pulley system) such that user movement of the members 26A, 26B in at least one direction is resisted by the resistance unit (e.g., via lifting the selected number of plates vertically against the force of gravity). An exemplary arrangement of pulleys and a single cable is shown with the pulleys either having vertical axes or horizontal axes as shown. As a practical matter, the exemplary axes are as close to exactly horizontal or vertical as industry practice determines, typically, this will be well within 10° and likely within 2°. For purposes of reference, it is assumed the apparatus is resting atop a horizontal floor surface 10 and the directions left, right, forward, and rearward are from the point of view of the user when using the apparatus kneeling as shown in FIG. 1.

The exemplary members 26A, 26B are pivotally mounted to rotate about respective axes 510A, 510B (e.g., via bushings 28 held by the frame and receiving shafts (not shown) of the members 26A, 26B). However, myriad other pivotal mounting configurations are known in the art. The pivots/axes 510A, 510B are each near one end of the associated member 26A, 26B. In this example, they intersect the user's respective knees to that the rotations of the user's upper legs are twists generally parallel to the femurs. In the exemplary embodiment, one end of the cable is mounted to the resistance unit (e.g., to the upper end of the sting) and the other end engages the members 26A, 26B. Exemplary engagement of this second end is to a pulley 34 (FIG. 3) mounted to turn the shaft of the second user-engaging member 26B. Linkage 36 interconnects that shaft to the shaft of the first user-engaging member to transmit rotation from the first member to the second member and therefrom to the pulley 34 and vice-versa. There may be alternative cable arrangements including situations where the two ends of a single cable are coupled to the respective user-engaging members and a central portion of the cable is wrapped around a central pulley mounted to the sting.

The members 26A, 26B have upper surfaces 30 for engaging the respective shins of the lower legs. The surface 30 may be formed by a pad atop a surface of a metal body of the members 26A, 26B.

Additional surfaces of the members 26A, 26B help position the user's lower legs and take the loads of the exertion. With the resistance unit 24 resisting adduction, each of the members 26A, 26B has a surface 40 relatively near the ankle facing outward. Again, these surfaces 40 may be formed by second pads along corresponding faces of the metal body of the associated member 26A, 26B. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the user-engaging members having adjustable lengths to adjust to user heights. More particularly, a maximally contracted position is shown and a broken line maximally extended position is shown allowing extension to adjust to user lower leg length.

Thus, the exercise involves the user mounting the apparatus and selecting a weight (resistance). The method then involves shifting against the resistance from a relatively abducted condition (FIGS. 2, 3, and 6) to a relatively adducted condition (FIG. 1) via an adductive movement (internal rotation). During this motion, the inboard sides of the lower leg press against the surfaces 40. For further stabilization, the user may grasp handles 50 of the frame. The internal rotation is followed by an external rotation back toward the initial condition. The internal rotation is aided by the resistance unit so that the user must maintain an adductive force even while abducting. The internal and external rotations may be sequentially repeated, terminating in one of the external rotations. The user may then dismount.

In addition to gluteus maximus, other muscles exercised include: gluteus minimus; piriformis; superior gemellus; inferior gemellus; internal obturator muscle (obturator internus); and quadratus femoris.

FIG. 5 schematically shows details of a pulley and cable arrangement of the resistance unit.

FIGS. 7-9 schematically show a second apparatus 200 configured more as a consumer quality apparatus for home use. Similar components have similar numbering to the apparatus 20. The frame is shown as 202 and the resistance unit as 204 (FIG. 8). The exemplary resistance unit is a pneumatic and/or hydraulic cylinder (which may also have spring loading) having a cylinder 206 pivotally mounted to one of the members 26A, 26B and a piston 208 pivotally mounted to the other to provide the resistance. Yet alternative resistance units comprise elastic bands, springs, or the like. Use may be similar to the use of the first apparatus. Unlike the exemplary first apparatus 20, the exemplary second apparatus 200 does not have synchronized movement between user-engaging members. Each is free to pivot about its respective axis 510A, 510B such as via illustrated pivot blocks 210 mounted to uprights of the respective members and pivotally mounted to a cross-member of the frame.

The apparatus may be made using otherwise conventional or yet-developed materials and techniques appropriate to the particular equipment line of apparatus.

The use of “first”, “second”, and the like in the description and following claims is for differentiation within the claim only and does not necessarily indicate relative or absolute importance or temporal order. Similarly, the identification in a claim of one element as “first” (or the like) does not preclude such “first” element from identifying an element that is referred to as “second” (or the like) in another claim or in the description.

Where a measure is given in English units followed by a parenthetical containing SI or other units, the parenthetical's units are a conversion and should not imply a degree of precision not found in the English units.

One or more embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, when applied to create an apparatus for an existing basic line of equipment, details of such line may influence details of particular implementations. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise apparatus (20; 200) for use by a user (600) and comprising: a frame (22; 202); a resistance unit (24; 204); a first member (26A) positioned to engage a left lower leg of the user; a second member (26B) positioned to engage a right lower leg of the user; wherein: the first member is mounted to the frame for rotation about a first axis (510A) between a first condition and a second condition; the second member is mounted to the frame for rotation about a second axis (510B) between a first condition and a second condition; the first member and the second member are coupled to the resistance unit so that the rotations of the first member and the second member to their second conditions from their first conditions is against resistance from the resistance unit; and the first member and the second member are mounted for the respective rotations so that the rotations of the first member and the second member to their second conditions from their first conditions draws the user's ankles together proportionately more than the user's knees are drawn together, if at all.
 2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the resistance unit (24) comprises a selectorized plate stack.
 3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the resistance unit (204) comprises a cylinder for providing resistance in at least one of extension and compression.
 4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first axis and the second axis are within 10° of vertical.
 5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first member and the second member each comprise: an outward-facing inboard surface (40) for laterally engaging a lower portion of the respective associated lower leg of the user.
 6. A method for a user to use the exercise apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising: kneeling on the exercise apparatus with the left shin supported by the first member and the right shin supported by the second member; and internally rotating the left lower leg and right lower leg against resistance from the resistance unit.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising: externally rotating the left lower leg and right lower leg aided by the resistance unit.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein: the internally rotating and externally rotating are sequentially repeated, terminating with one of the external rotations.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: the user mounting the machine prior to the sequence and dismounting the machine after the sequence.
 10. An exercise apparatus (20; 200) for use by a user (600) and comprising: means for supporting the user in a kneeling position; and means for providing a resisted internal rotation of the user's lower legs while kneeling.
 11. A method for a human user (600) to use an exercise apparatus (20; 200), the method comprising: kneeling on the exercise apparatus with the left leg supported by a first member and the right leg supported by a second member; and internally rotating the left lower leg and right lower leg against resistance from the exercise apparatus. 